Qantas resumes direct Gold Coast-Auckland flights

Qantas International has resumed direct flights between Gold Coast Airport and Auckland, bringing back a trans-Tasman service that had been absent for about five years.

The airline's launch on June 16 restores nonstop connectivity on a route that was cut during the COVID-19 period. The service runs three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and adds about 52,000 seats a year.

Qantas is the only carrier on the Gold Coast-Auckland route offering a business-class cabin.

Why the route matters

Local airport and tourism leaders say the reinstated service strengthens the Gold Coast's links with New Zealand, one of the region's biggest visitor markets.

Amelia Evans, chief executive of Queensland Airports Limited, said the route returns Qantas International to Gold Coast Airport and makes the airport Australia's most connected to New Zealand.

She said around 300,000 people traveled between the Gold Coast and Auckland on Air New Zealand and Jetstar in the previous 12 months, with flights averaging about 90% full.

Experience Gold Coast chief executive John Warn said New Zealand is the Gold Coast's largest international market, with 217,000 visitors in the last year and more than 7,000 business travelers.

What happens next

The route is supported by the Connecting Queensland Fund and sits within a broader push to expand Gold Coast Airport's international network ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The key question now is whether Qantas keeps the service at the planned three weekly frequencies year-round, and whether rivals respond with changes of their own.

The Gold Coast-Auckland launch also restores a premium option on a market that has been served by Air New Zealand and Jetstar during Qantas's absence.